Bharatanatyam in Christchurch

Co-organizer of Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch.
Bharatanatyam is an ancient, classical dance form that originated in the state of Tamil Nadu in India and is recognized as the national dance of India. The word Bharata is a combination of three Sanskrit words: Bhava (emotion), Raga (musical melody) and Thala (rhythm) while the word Natyam means drama. Bharatanatyam is often called the embodiment of music in visual form and is traditionally set to a type of South Indian classical music called Carnatic music. The stories enacted through this dance form come from Hindu mythology, which like Greek mythology is polytheistic with many Gods and Goddesses representing different virtues and values.

Favourite Quote

"When treasure is left just as treasure, treasure becomes giving....
Making a living and producing things can be nothing other than giving.
To leave flowers to the wind, to leave birds to the seasons, are also
acts of giving... Not only should you make an effort to give, but also
be mindful of every opportunity to give... Mind is beyond measure.
Things given are beyond measure. Moreover, in giving, mind transforms
the gift and the gift transforms the mind."
Written on the fifth day, fifth month, fourth year of Ninji [1243 A.D.]
by Eihei Dogen (translated by L. Richmond and K. Tanahashi)

A Self-organizing Buffalo Herd of the Ogalala Lakota Nation, Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, USA